Ken Done: Art Design Life

A comprehensive and extensively illustrated monograph on the art and design of Ken Done, celebrating the man, his life’s work and his legacy.

Is it not time we placed Done into the context of Streeton and Roberts, Olsen and Nolan – all of whom lived by and painted the harbour? – Glenn Barkley, curator and artist

At once ad man and artist, designer and entrepreneur, Ken Done has achieved what few others have. His signature style has graced ad campaigns and art cars, magazine covers and doona covers, public spaces and landmark cultural events, but it is his unabating passion for painting that sustains him. For more than forty years, Done has chronicled the Australian way, documenting how it feels to be Australian with an exuberance that is immediately recognisable.

Ken Done: Art Design Life documents Done’s expansive art and design practice over four decades and provides a fascinating insight into the artist and his oeuvre. The book features both early and lesser-known works, as well as the iconic paintings of Sydney Harbour, the Outback and the reef. It opens an extensive archive, providing readers in-depth access to the catalogue of fashion and homewares, and the designs that came to define an era.

This book celebrates the man, his work and his enduring legacy, which has captured hearts around the world.

About the author

Ken Done's first exhibition was held in Sydney in 1980. Since then, he has held over 100 solo shows, including major exhibitions in Australia, Europe, Japan and the USA, and become a beloved cultural icon. His work has been described as the most original style to come out of Australia.

Amber Creswell Bell is a curator, writer and creative hustler. With a passion for art, Amber champions emerging and unrepresented artists, curating popular exhibitions both independently and in collaboration with well-established commercial galleries. This is her third book for Thames & Hudson.